Helsinki 26.2

Finland 

Can I say I never wanted to leave?

I arrived at 8am on a perfect 70 degree bluest sky Friday. The bus took me to the city center where I walked to Toolo Towers my hotel. Simple and elegant my hotel was. Loved.

I walked to the marathon expo which was 1 mile away. Medium sized. Everyone spoke Finnish but talked with you in Engish back as needed !

I then went to my beloved Karhu Concept store. Very cool. Treated like a princess and got my Karhu bag and racing jacket I had been asking for))) 

Tried to rest, but walked the beach and area. Could not find peanut butter!!!! My only major concern....

The race was at 3pm sat. Hard time staying awake. I was tired but excited. Walked to the start, it was warm.....

My choice was to take this race easy as a city tour and to not push the pace after my ultra marathon a week prior , my legs were not yet 100%.

Grand choice.

The hills were there along with some cobblestone which made the terrain a bit tricky. Saw beautiful waters, cruise shops. Sailboats. Beautiful families all blond and perfect, Geleto stands. So glad I took it in..... City center wow. Great support throughout, water stations with sprinklers and sponges and pickles and maximum 'aide' cups,

Ended in the Olympic Stadium. Very brilliant. I was a wee bit sore, very happy, very hot and very very tired, but finished first american women in an Olympic stadium, only time I can say that !) I was placed very high in my age group although my time was  very very slow .

I will be back yearly. What am epic trip. Over wayyyyy too quick.

Quebec City Marathon August 30th. 

Ultra First and USATF-NE 5 mile Race

The Sweltering Summer 8 hr and marathon was last Sat, August the 8th. My first race over 26.2 and I felt good. The weather was warm, but we had some cloud cover later in the day. Each lap was on an oval track and was .334 miles in length.

I paced myself at a slower pace Thani wanted per my coach, this proved to be the best strategy of course!

Every 3 miles I would stop for a drink or a gummy, GU chomp, or a few m n m's. This I did for the 8 hours. the time Flowe by. I realized I almost had the record in hand and sped up in hour 7, alas, did not beat it by 3 miles.

I won the women's division and was third for 8 hour overall) 

Too cool. 

I felt fine and could of continued a bit. Glad I was feeling this way. Mentally the miles ticked by .

Sunday I raced the Naraganset 5 mile Grand Prix with my CMS Team. 

I did a 2 mile warm up and my legs felt just a wee bit heavy, but not bad at all. I decided to see how I felt with my pace. I was able to keep a steady 650-710 pace then a 715 pace the last mile. I started to feel the effects of the 50 miles on Saturday. 

Ended the race on a good note and a 2 mile cool down . My team did so well ! 

Proud to be part of CMS and to be able to race on this very competitve circut. 

Overall of very brilliant racing weekend. Part of my recent successes have been in part to swimming laps daily. This has helped my legs and muscles do so much.

On to the Helsinki Marathon this Saturday. excited.